Kinetic energy rod warhead with blast fragmentation

ABSTRACT

A hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead includes a projectile core including a plurality of projectiles, explosive segments about the projectile core, and isolators between the explosive segments. There is an initiator for each explosive segment and a shell about the explosive segments. A deployable casing including multiple fragment members is attached to the shell, and there is a housing about the deployable casing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This subject invention relates to improvements in kinetic energy rodwarheads.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Destroying missiles such as tactical ballistic missiles, airbornetargets such as cruise missiles, aircraft, re-entry vehicles, and othertargets falls into three primary classifications: “hit-to-kill”vehicles, blast fragmentation warheads, and kinetic energy rod warheads.

“Hit-to-kill” vehicles are typically launched into a position proximatea target via a missile such as the Patriot, Trident or MX missile. Thekill vehicle is navigable and designed to strike the re-entry vehicle torender it inoperable. Countermeasures, however, can be used to avoid the“hit-to-kill” vehicle. Moreover, biological warfare bomblets andchemical warfare submunition payloads are carried by some “hit-to-kill”threats, and one or more of these bomblets or chemical submunitionpayloads can survive and cause heavy casualties even if the“hit-to-kill” vehicle accurately strikes the target.

Blast fragmentation type warheads are designed to be carried by existingmissiles. Blast fragmentation type warheads, unlike “hit-to-kill”vehicles, are not navigable. Instead, when the missile carrier reaches aposition close to an enemy missile or other target, a pre-made band ofmetal on the warhead is detonated and the pieces of metal areaccelerated with high velocity and strike the target. The fragments,however, are not always effective at destroying the target and, again,biological bomblets and/or chemical submunition payloads may survive andcause heavy casualties.

A kinetic energy rod warhead has at least two primary advantages over“hit-to-kill vehicles” and blast fragmentation warheads. A kineticenergy rod warhead does not rely on precise navigation as is the casewith “hit-to-kill” vehicles. Also, a kinetic energy rod warhead providesbetter penetration than blast fragmentation type warheads.

The primary components typically associated with a theoretical kineticenergy rod warhead are a projectile core or bay including a number ofindividual lengthy rod projectiles or penetrators, and an explosivecharge. When the explosive charge is detonated, the rod projectiles orpenetrators are deployed. Typically, these components are within a hullor housing.

The inventor hereof, Richard M. Lloyd, has published several textbooksconcerning kinetic energy rod warheads, and including some discussionsof “hit-to-kill” vehicles and blast fragmentation type warheads, and hasbeen granted a number of patents for kinetic energy warheads and/orkinetic energy rod warhead technology, including U.S. Pat. Nos.6,598,534; 6,779,462; 6,931,994; 7,040,235; 7,415,917; 7,017,496;6,973,878; 6,910,423; 6,920,827; 7,624,682; 7,621,222; 7,624,683; and7,143,698. The inventor hereof also has various pending patentapplications concerning kinetic energy rod warheads and kinetic energyrod warhead technology, including U.S. Pat. Publ. Nos. 20060112847;20070084376; and 20060283348.

Greater lethality is achieved when the projectiles or rods of a kineticenergy rod warhead are deployed to intercept and/or destroy a target.

In order to aim and deploy the projectiles or rods of a kinetic energyrod warhead, the explosive charge is typically divided into a number ofexplosive charge segments or sections, with sympathetic shields betweenthe segments. Each explosive segment may have its own detonator.Selected explosive charge segments are detonated to aim the projectilesin a specific direction and to control the spray pattern of theprojectiles. For instance, detonators, detonation cords, and/or jettisonpacks on one side of the projectile core can be detonated to cause theirassociated explosive charge segments to eject specified hull sections,creating an opening in the hull on the target side. Detonators on theopposite side of the core are detonated to deploy the projectile rods inthe direction of the opening and thus towards the target. See e.g. U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,598,534 and 6,973,878 which are incorporated herein byreference. Some methods for aiming of fragments or projectiles aredisclosed in various patents by others for various types of warheads orordnance systems, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,026,213; 3,703,865;3,796,159; 2,925,965; and 4,216,720, and German patent publicationnumber DE19524726.

Although a kinetic energy rod warhead may be highly lethal againsttargets such as tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs), for airborne targets(ABTs) such as cruise missiles or “soft” low altitude targets, missdistances can sometimes be relatively large. At large missdistances—e.g. distances outside of the lethal zone of the kineticenergy rod warhead—a kinetic energy rod warhead alone may not be ashighly lethal against ABTs or “soft” targets.

Blast fragmentation warheads may be effective against ABT or “soft”targets. Some methods for implementing blast fragmentation warheads aredisclosed in various patents by others, including U.S. Pat. Nos.5,157,225; 4,216,720; 4,129,061; 3,757,694; and 3,949,674.

For the most part, however, these patents concerning blast fragmentationdo not include the advantageous features of a kinetic energy rodwarhead, nor do such patents take into consideration miss distances orthe countervailing considerations of weight, arrangement of explosive,and/or hardware configurations that must be accounted for in a kineticenergy rod warhead.

A kinetic energy warhead including a frangible skin which easilyfractures and breaks apart when charge sections are exploded, to avoidinterference with the deployment angle of deployed projectiles, and toprovide structural support for the warhead during handling, shipping anddeployment, was proposed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/924,104,now abandoned. The textbook by the inventor hereof, Richard M. Lloyd,“Conventional Warhead Systems Physics and Engineering Design”, providesadditional details concerning skin designs used in blast fragmentationtype warheads. Chapters 2 and 3 of that textbook propose types ofcontrolled warhead fragmentation casing for blast fragmentation typewarheads.

The concept of replacing a blast fragmentation warhead with a kineticenergy rod warhead in a carrier or kill vehicle, or adding a kineticenergy rod warhead, has also been an option proposed by the applicant.See e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 6,973,878.

Advantages such as increased lethality can be obtained by including akinetic energy rod warhead in a carrier missile. To include only one ofa kinetic energy rod warhead and a blast fragmentation warhead, or toinclude both separately in a carrier or kill vehicle, would include somedisadvantages.

If only one warhead were to be inserted in the carrier missile, one ofeach kind of warhead must be ready to insert into the missile, and adecision about which type of warhead should be inserted would have to bemade at ground level prior to launch. Alternatively, adding both akinetic energy rod warhead and a blast fragmentation warhead to thecarrier missile would be more cumbersome, and it would increase theweight to be carried. Moreover, because of their physical independence,two separate electronics systems may be required in order to provide themost accurate information to each of the separate kinetic energy warheadand fragmentation warhead.

It would be desirable to have the advantageous features of both akinetic energy rod warhead and a blast fragmentation warhead packaged inone warhead, to eliminate the necessity of some ground level decisionsor stockpiling an excessive number of warheads, and/or to reduce overallweight and complexity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide an improved kinetic energy rodwarhead with increased versatility and lethality. In one aspect, thekinetic energy rod warhead is a hybrid combining characteristics of botha kinetic energy rod warhead and a blast fragmentation warhead with thepotential for high lethality against dissimilar targets withoutoccupying the volume required by two separate and independent warheads.As a result, there can be more choice of targets in flight, withincreased effectiveness, while minimizing overall volume, weight andcomplexity.

The invention results from the realization in part that a new kineticenergy rod warhead with the capability of destroying different types oftargets can be achieved by including a projectile core having aplurality of projectiles which can be explosively ejected and adeployable casing made up of multiple members which can be explosivelyexpelled from the warhead.

The invention thus provides an improved way to optionally buteffectively destroy targets such as TBMs, or airborne (ABTs or “soft”)targets and targets which may be at relatively large miss distances.

The warhead of the subject invention may be used exclusively, or inconjunction with many of the warhead configurations and/or features fordestroying targets disclosed in the applicant's other patents or patentapplications such as those enumerated above, and/or may include otherfeatures as desired for a particular application.

The various embodiments of the subject invention, however, need notachieve all these results or objectives and the claims hereof should notbe limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these resultsor objectives.

The invention features a hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead whichincludes, in one embodiment, a projectile core including a plurality ofprojectiles and explosive segments about the projectile core. There areisolators between the explosive segments and an initiator for eachexplosive segment. A shell is about the explosive segments and adeployable casing is attached to the shell. The casing includes multiplefragment members, and a housing is typically disposed about thedeployable casing.

In one variation, select initiators detonate the explosive segments todeploy one of either the plurality of projectiles at a target or themultiple fragment members at a target. In one aspect, select initiatorsdetonate the explosive segments to eject the plurality of individualprojectiles from the projectile core at a target. In another aspect,select initiators detonate explosive segments to expel the multiplefragment members from the warhead at a target. Typically, initiators arelocated internally on the inside of each explosive segment adjacent theprojectile core.

In one configuration, the deployable casing members are discretepre-made fragments, such as titanium bars. In another configuration, thedeployable casing fragment members are scored sections of the casing. Inone example, the deployable casing is attached to less than the entiretyof the shell. The deployable casing may be attached to the shell withadhesive, such as epoxy in one example. The housing is a hull typicallysurrounding the deployable casing. The shell may be made of a ceramicmaterial or a composite material or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the projectiles are individual rods, and theisolators are sympathetic shields. In one variation, the hybrid kineticenergy rod warhead includes a target locator system configured to locatea target relative to the warhead, and a controller, responsive to thetarget locator system, configured to selectively detonate specifiedinitiators or sets of initiators depending on a mode of the warhead. Thewarhead mode may be either in a kinetic energy rod warhead mode or ablast fragmentation mode.

The invention also features a hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead whichincludes a projectile core including a plurality of individual rodprojectiles, explosive segments surrounding the projectile core, a shellsurrounding the explosive segments, and a deployable casing including aplurality of discrete pre-made fragments attached to the shell. Thereare sympathetic shields between the explosive segments and internalinitiators on the inside of each explosive segment and adjacent theprojectile core, for detonating the explosive to deploy one of eitherthe plurality of discrete pre-made fragments at a target or theplurality of individual rod projectiles at a target.

The invention further features a kinetic energy rod warhead system whichincludes a projectile core including a plurality of projectiles,explosive segments about the projectile core, isolators between theexplosive segments, and a shell about the explosive segments. Adeployable casing is attached to the shell, and the casing includesmultiple fragment members. A target locator system is configured tolocate a target relative to the warhead and a controller responsive tothe target locator system is configured to selectively detonatespecified initiators or sets of initiators depending on a mode of thewarhead. There are initiators for each explosive segment for detonatingthe explosive segments to deploy one of either the multiple fragmentmembers at a target or the plurality of individual rod projectiles at atarget. In one variation, the multiple members are discrete pre-madefragments and the plurality of projectiles are rods. In anothervariation, the deployable members are scored sections of said casing andthe projectiles are rods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled inthe art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of one embodimentof a hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic cross-sectional top views showing onevariation of the hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional top view showing another variationof the hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of acontroller and target locator system within a carrier for use with theinvention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic partial cross-sectional top view showing analternative embodiment of a hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead inaccordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, thisinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orbeing carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangements of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. If only oneembodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limitedto that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be readrestrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifestinga certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer.

Current kinetic energy rod warheads are designed to destroy many targetswith high lethality, but may be less effective against targets atrelatively large miss distances. Conversely, blast fragmentationwarheads are less effective against targets at which a kinetic energyrod warhead is typically deployed. The present invention provides, amongother advantages, improved lethality overall against a variety oftargets within a carrier missile volume normally allotted for either akinetic energy rod warhead or a blast fragmentation warhead.

A hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead and system in accordance with theinvention includes hybrid warhead 10, FIG. 1, including projectile core12, which includes a plurality of rods or projectiles 14. Explosive 16is about or surrounding projectile core 12, and in one embodiment asshown, explosive 16 is divided into eight sections or segments 16 a-16h, although the number of segments may vary depending on a particularapplication. In one example, the hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead ofthe present invention may include four segments as disclosed in theapplicant's patent application entitled Multi-Point Time Spacing KineticEnergy Rod Warhead and System, U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,which is incorporated herein by reference, and further may include manyfeatures disclosed therein. The weight saved by utilizing less isolatorsor shields as disclosed in that patent application could be particularlyuseful with the present invention, to offset any warhead weight gainedby the addition of the deployable casing, discussed below.

Moreover, except as otherwise set forth herein, the exact configurationof the hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead may vary depending on aparticular desired application or result to be achieved, including butnot limited to a number of features disclosed in the applicant's otherpatents and applications.

Warhead 10 may typically include end plates and/or absorbing layers ofaluminum for example (not shown) at each end, and buffer layer 18disposed between projectile core 12 and explosive 16, although these arenot necessary limitations. In one variation, isolators 20-27, such assympathetic shields, separate explosive 16 into segments or sections 16a-16 h, with an isolator between each explosive segment. There is atleast one initiator or detonator 30-37 for each explosive segment, andinitiators 30-37 are typically located centrally on the interior ofexplosive 16 proximate projectile core 12 or optional buffer 18. Forbetter results, initiators 30-37 are located internally on the inside ofeach of explosive segments 16 a-16 h adjacent the projectile core asshown. Also in one example, projectiles 14 are lengthy rods, often ofcylindrical cross-section and made of metal such as tungsten, and theisolators or sympathetic shields 20-27 are made of composite materialsuch as steel sandwiched between polycarbonate resin sheet layers. Therods and sympathetic shields are not necessarily limited to these shapesor materials, and may be of various shapes or materials depending on adesired application.

In one aspect of the hybrid kinetic rod warhead 10 and system inaccordance with the invention, shell 40 is about or surroundingexplosive segments 16 a-16 h, and deployable casing 50 is attached toshell 40. In various examples, shell 40 is made of ceramic or of a thincomposite, although these are not a necessary limitations and othermaterials may occur to those skilled in the art.

Deployable casing 50 includes and is made up of multiple members orplurality of fragment members 52. Housing or hull 60 is typicallydisposed about or surrounding deployable casing 50 and its members 52,shell 40, explosive 16 and other internal components.

In one variation of the subject invention, fragment members 52 ofdeployable casing 50 are discrete, individual pre-made fragments, whichin one example are titanium bars, each attached to casing 50. In anotherexample, members 52 are small steel fragments. A suitable mass forpre-made fragments or bars is in the range of 30-60 grains, althoughother masses or weights are possible. In various configurations, anepoxy or other adhesives may be used to attach members 52 to shell 40.

In another variation, deployable members 52 are scored sections ofcasing 50, in which scoring or grooves or a grid matrix (not shown) isformed in casing 50 of sufficient depth and dimensions such thatexplosive force would cause the members to separate and be expelled fromthe warhead upon detonation of explosive 16. The exact form of thepre-made fragments, or scoring or shell may vary as necessary for aparticular desired application however, as would be known to thoseskilled in the art, including some designs as described in Chapters 2and 3 of “Conventional Warhead Systems Physics and Engineering Design”by the inventor hereof. In contrast to discrete pre-made fragments,scoring may result in higher velocity, but conversely, will result inmore size and weight variation between expelled members. Also, somesizes (e.g. mass of 30-60 grains) may be more difficult to achieve byscoring the casing as opposed to utilizing members which are discretepre-made fragments, although either embodiment could be effective.

As noted in the Background section above, examples of known warheads aretypically only one of two types, e.g. either a kinetic energy warhead ora blast fragmentation warhead, each with its own advantages in differentsituations. Hybrid warhead 10, however, combines the advantageousfeatures of both types into a single warhead. Initiators 32-37 candetonate explosive 16 either to deploy plurality of projectiles 14 at atarget, or to deploy multiple members 52 at the target. It should benoted that the initiators discussed herein detonate explosive 16, ormore specifically detonate the explosive sections 16 a-16 f, to deployeither projectiles 14 from the projectile core 12 or members 52 from thewarhead. Thus the structure of hybrid warhead 10 allows for two warheadmodes: (1) kinetic energy rod warhead mode; and (2) blast fragmentationmode.

Against TBMs or similar targets T₁, FIG. 2A, select initiators or set ofinitiators, e.g. initiators 35-36 or 34-37, detonate explosive 16 toeject projectiles 14 from projectile core 12 at a target T₁.Particularly, rods 14 can be and are typically aimed at target T₁ in amanner as known for kinetic energy rod warheads. See e.g. U.S. Pat. No.6,973,878 incorporated herein by reference. In this aspect of theinvention against target T₁, or in a kinetic energy rod warhead mode, itis projectiles 14 which are ejected at target T₁, with highly lethaleffect. In the example shown, explosive shock waves 60 provide a“pushing” force on projectiles 14 in core 12, with little to none of theexplosive shock wave force directly applied to members 52 aligned on theside of target T₁. Because members 52 are exterior to core 12, however,some members 52 naturally lead the projectiles to some extent, as shownin FIG. 2B, but members 52 are not specifically deployed at the target.The velocity of projectiles 14 and members 52 toward T₁ is approximatelythe same relatively slower velocity, however, but still highly effectiveagainst TBMs and similar targets. In such a kinetic energy rod warheadmode, prior to detonating the explosive sections as described herein,sections of the warhead hull or housing 60, FIG. 2 may be ejected awayfrom the intended travel direction of the projectiles 14 by detonationcords and/or jettison explosive packs (not shown) as disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,973,878 for example, or by other means. Also, it can be seenand should be appreciated overall that the options available for firingof select initiators and/or combinations and the timing thereof may beadjusted to a desired application or result.

In a blast fragmentation mode or against ABTs or “soft” targets T₂, FIG.3, select initiators or sets of initiators, e.g. all initiators 30-37 inone example, detonate explosive segments 16 a-16 h to expel all members52 of deployable casing 50 from warhead 10 at a target or targets. Inthis aspect of the present invention, or blast fragmentation mode,initiators 30-37 are internal and detonation is rearward. Explosiveshock waves 70 provide a “pushing” force away from projectiles 14 incore 12, with the explosive shock wave force applied directly to members52. Thus, projectiles 14 are not deployed at the target, but insteadremain in place and/or travel in a direction opposite the target. Forbetter effect initiators 30-37 are located on the inside of explosivesegments 16 a-16 h, one for each segment, adjacent projectile core 12.High energy shock waves 70 result. Consequently, members 52 are expelledoutwardly at high velocity from warhead 10 at a target or targets T₂,which may be anywhere within 360° of warhead 10. Typically initiators32-37 are detonated simultaneously, to expel members 52 isotropicallyfor maximum velocity and higher lethality against ABT or soft targetsand/or targets at larger miss distances. For members 52 each of whichhave a mass of 30-60 grains for example, velocity may be in the range of4,000-6,000 feet per second, with even greater velocity for members orfragments 52 located closer to the center of an explosive section.Conversely, the velocity of members 52 close to the outer edges of aparticular explosive segment may be less to some extent. Also, in theexample of members 52 having a mass of 30-60 grains, approximately 5,900members may be attached to a kinetic energy warhead of typicaldimensions.

Target locator system 80, FIG. 4, is configured to locate a targetrelative to isolators 20-27 and/or relative to explosive segments 16a-16 h, for example. Target locator systems are known in the art, andare often part of a guidance subsystem such as guidance subsystem 82. Inthis example, guidance system 82 is also within carrier or missile 84and such systems or subsystems commonly include, for example, fusingand/or safe and arm technology, using e.g. the distance between thecarrier missile and a target, static angle (ejection or expulsion angleif the carrier missile were not moving), dynamic angle (the ejection orexpulsion angle when the velocity of the carrier is accounted for), andlean angle (angle at which the fuse detects a target in advance), alsoas known in the art.

Controller 86 is responsive to target locator system 80 and configuredto selectively detonate specified detonators or sets of detonators insequence, depending on the desired deployment mode of plurality of rods14. Overall, versatility of warhead 10 is a result. It should beunderstood that in various configurations controller 86 may be part oftarget locator system 80 and/or guidance subsystem 82, any of which maybe part of warhead 10 itself, as would be known to and understood bythose skilled in the art.

In cases where carrier missile 84 is capable of rolling in response to atarget location, one alternative embodiment for warhead 10 is shown inFIG. 5. Deployable casing 50 including members 52 is affixed to only oneside, or onto 180° only, of warhead 10 to save weight while stillproviding effectiveness. Once a target T₃ is detected but in advance offiring, carrier missile 84 may roll such that members 52 are morealigned with the target T₃ as shown. Detonation of the explosive wouldbe effected much the same as discussed above for blast fragmentationmode, but with only one-half of the explosive segments detonated, forexample, by detonation of only selected initiators 30-33.

Accordingly, the various embodiments of the invention result in animproved and more versatile kinetic energy rod warhead and system withhigh lethality against a variety of potential threats.

Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawingsand not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may becombined with any or all of the other features in accordance with theinvention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” asused herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and arenot limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodimentsdisclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the onlypossible embodiments.

In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of thepatent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claimelement presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the artcannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literallyencompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will beunforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fairinterpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationaleunderlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation tomany equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant cannot be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for anyclaim element amended.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are withinthe following claims.

1. A hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead comprising: a projectile coreincluding a plurality of projectiles; explosive segments about theprojectile core; isolators between the explosive segments; an initiatorfor each explosive segment; a shell about the explosive segments; adeployable casing attached to the shell, said casing including multiplefragment members; and a housing about the deployable casing.
 2. Thehybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which select initiatorsdetonate said explosive segments to deploy said plurality of projectilesat a target or detonate said explosive segments to deploy said multiplefragment members at a target.
 3. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warheadof claim 1 in which the deployable casing members are discrete pre-madefragments.
 4. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 3 in whichthe discrete pre-made fragments are titanium bars.
 5. The hybrid kineticenergy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the deployable casing members arescored sections of said casing.
 6. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warheadof claim 1 in which the shell is made of a ceramic material, or acomposite material, or both ceramic material and composite material. 7.The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the initiatorsare located internally on the inside of each explosive segment adjacentthe projectile core.
 8. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1in which select initiators detonate said explosive segments to ejectsaid plurality of individual projectiles from said projectile core at atarget.
 9. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in whichselect initiators detonate said explosive segments to expel saidmultiple fragment members from the warhead at a target.
 10. The hybridkinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the projectiles areindividual rods.
 11. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 inwhich the isolators are sympathetic shields.
 12. The hybrid kineticenergy rod warhead of claim 1 further including a target locator systemconfigured to locate a target relative to said warhead.
 13. The hybridkinetic energy rod warhead of claim 12 further including a controller,responsive to the target locator system, configured to selectivelydetonate specified initiators or sets of initiators depending on a modeof the warhead.
 14. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 13 inwhich the warhead mode is kinetic energy rod warhead mode.
 15. Thehybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 13 in which the warhead modeis blast fragmentation mode.
 16. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warheadof claim 1 in which the housing is a hull surrounding the deployablecasing.
 17. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in whichsaid deployable casing is attached to less than the entirety of saidshell.
 18. The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which themultiple fragment members are attached to said shell with an adhesive.19. A hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead comprising: a projectile coreincluding a plurality of individual rod projectiles; explosive segmentssurrounding the projectile core; a shell surrounding the explosivesegments; a deployable casing including a plurality of discrete pre-madefragments attached to said shell; sympathetic shields between theexplosive segments; and internal initiators on the inside of eachexplosive segment and adjacent the projectile core for detonating saidexplosive segments to deploy said plurality of discrete pre-madefragments at a target or for detonating said explosive segments todeploy said plurality of individual rod projectiles at a target.
 20. Akinetic energy rod warhead system comprising: a projectile coreincluding a plurality of projectiles; explosive segments about theprojectile core; isolators between the explosive into segments; a shellabout the explosive segments; a deployable casing attached to the shell,said casing including multiple fragment members; a target locator systemconfigured to locate a target relative to the said warhead; acontroller, responsive to the target locator system, configured toselectively detonate specified initiators or sets of initiatorsdepending on a mode of the warhead; and initiators for each explosivesegment for detonating said explosive segments to deploy said multiplefragment members at a target or for detonating said explosive segmentsto deploy said plurality of individual rod projectiles at a target. 21.The system of claim 20 in which the multiple members are discretepre-made fragments and the plurality of projectiles are rods.
 22. Thesystem of claim 20 in which the deployable members are scored sectionsof said casing and the projectiles are rods.